A quarterly bulletin facilitated by your membership of the Rural Services Network highlighting a selection of current rural economic development news, issues and opportunities

Modern Industrial Strategy response from RSN

The Government has been consulting on the Modern Industrial Strategy, Invest 2035, with growth of the economy as the number one mission of the Labour Government. The strategy is a 10 year plan that aims to deliver the certainty and stability businesses need to invest in the high growth sectors.

The consultation recently closed and the Rural Services Network provided a response on behalf of its membership.

The Modern Industrial Strategy set out 8 key sectors which the Government believes offer the highest growth opportunity for the economy and business.

It also states that: “A core objective of the industrial strategy is unleashing the full potential of our cities and regions. The industrial strategy will concentrate efforts on places with the greatest potential for our growth sectors: city regions, high-potential clusters, and strategic industrial sites.”

The Rural Services Network believes that this is a dangerous approach which risks leaving behind the economy in rural areas.  Whilst there is a focus on these high growth driving sectors, it is important that this should not be the whole strategy.

We accept that for too long, the economic growth in Britain has been disproportionately concentrated in London and the Southeast, leaving other regions as ‘left behind places.’ But there is another factor – rural areas have been further left behind within regions.

It is essential to ensure that rural areas are not just treated as places where there is land to support developments/infrastructure to meet the needs of non-rural areas - but that those rural areas, their businesses, and communities, also benefit from the investments, job opportunities and economic growth.

You can read the full RSN response at this link.

Cross-border Energy Investment Programme calls for projects

The Borderlands Partnership, encompassing the local authority areas of Cumbria and Northumberland in England, and Dumfries & Galloway and Scottish Borders Councils in Scotland has announced a call for projects for the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal’s Energy Investment Programme. The Energy Programme is seen as an opportunity to accelerate the region’s transition to net zero by strategically investing in projects that support carbon reduction, deliver local high value jobs, support businesses and skills development, and are replicable in other areas of the Borderlands region. 

This Call for Projects aims to identify a short list of suitable projects to be further developed to unlock Borderlands funding – at least £1.5 million per project.

You can find out more information here.

RSN 2025 seminar programme announced

The 2025 RSN online seminar programme has been released. Eight sessions will be running on the following topics:

• Rural net zero – 29 January
• Rural connectivity – 26 February
• Rural communities – 26 March
• Rural economy – 30 April
• Rural transport – 4 June
• Rural housing – 2 July
• Rural planning – 5 November
• Rural health & care – 25 November

To book a place on any of the seminars follow this link.

Business innovation in rural areas – a path to sustainable growth?

In today's rapidly changing world, innovation is often heralded as the driving force behind economic growth and sustainability, writes Panagiotis Kyriakopoulos, Research Fellow at the National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise (NICRE).

“However, there is a tendency for the discussion of firm-level innovation to be less explored when it comes to rural areas. Rural regions are often perceived as isolated or lacking the resources needed to foster innovation, but this narrative is shifting. The more this topic is studied, the more evident it is that firm-level innovation is necessary for rural areas to flourish sustainably.

“However, despite its importance, there's been a notable gap in comprehensive reviews of the literature focused specifically on innovation at the firm level within these zones. For example, eco-innovation is becoming more and more popular as communities and businesses realise how important sustainable practices are. This kind of innovation is essential to tackling environmental issues and advancing a more sustainable future, from breakthroughs in renewable energy to creative approaches in sustainable agriculture.”

The goal of Panagiotis’s recent study (Revisiting research on firm-level innovation in rural areas: A systematic literature review and future research direction) published in the Journal of Rural Studies was to fill this gap by conducting a systematic literature review on firm-level innovation in rural areas. He examined 152 articles published between 2003 and 2023 to offer an overview of the evolution of this research field, identify key trends, and propose future directions.

You can read more at this link.

How the planning system can help deliver low carbon energy infrastructure

The countryside charity CPRE, in collaboration with the Aldersgate Group and RenewableUK, has released a new report detailing recommendations for reforming the UK’s planning system to achieve the government’s ambitious 2030 clean power and 2050 net-zero targets.

The report (titled Electric Dreams: How the Planning System Can Help Deliver the UK’s Low-Carbon Energy) outlines practical steps to streamline the planning process for onshore Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), which include essential energy and grid projects. CPRE is calling for reforms that not only accelerate the delivery of renewable energy but also ensure that the UK’s cherished landscapes are safeguarded and that local communities are given a real voice in shaping their energy future.

Key recommendations include:

• A nationwide public campaign, led by the government, to build support for renewable energy projects.
• The creation of a Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP), which would address planning challenges from the outset, particularly those related to environmental protection.
• Improved community engagement, putting communities at the heart of the planning process.

CPRE’s chief executive, Roger Mortlock, states, “Democracy should not be the victim in the delivery of net zero, nor should we settle for bargain basement solutions. Delivery of new infrastructure will be vastly improved if we listen to people’s concerns and take them with us.”

You can read the full report at the following link:
Planning-Project-Report-2024-Final.pdf

Rural England statistical digest available

The Statistical Digest of Rural England is a collection of statistics on a range of social and economic topics and provides broad comparisons between Rural and Urban areas by settlement type.

Prepared by DEFRA, the Digest is structured into thematic reports and incorporates the previously separate publication the Rural Economic Bulletin.

The Digest consists of the following thematic reports:

• Population
• Housing
• Health and Wellbeing
• Communities and Households
• Connectivity and Accessibility
• Education, Qualifications and Training
• Rural Economic Bulletin

You can access all the contents at the following link:
About the Digest and Rural Definitions - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The most recent rural economic statistics can be found at this link.

Socio-economic challenges in small rural towns

Small rural towns, historically central to agricultural and local service networks, are experiencing transformative socio-economic shifts according to a report launched by Rural England Community Interest Company (C.I.C.), titled "Socio-Economic Change and Challenges in Rural Small Towns."

The report reveals that these towns have faced increasing pressures over the decades, compounded by the disruptive impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

Graham Biggs, MBE, Chair of Directors at Rural England C.I.C., underscores the report’s significance: "The narrative of small rural towns is one of resilience, adaptation, and hope. However, Government support is urgently needed to address the unique challenges they face. This report offers a roadmap to empower rural communities to thrive amidst socio-economic changes."

The report’s findings shed light on critical areas requiring intervention:

• Demographic and Economic Changes
• Retail and High Street Challenges
• Transport and Accessibility
• Green Economy and Sustainability
• Government support gaps

The report emphasises the need for more inclusive and targeted government policies that acknowledge the unique needs of small rural towns. Equitable distribution of resources and a nuanced understanding of rural deprivation are essential to foster sustainable development.

To ensure the long-term vitality of small rural towns, the report advocates for:

• Recalibrated government support accessible to all towns, regardless of size.
• Economic diversification to counteract the decline of traditional sectors.
• Targeted interventions to address social inequalities.
• Empowerment of local communities to develop adaptive strategies for resilience.

You can read the full report and its recommendations at this link.

Royal Countryside Fund opens for applications

The Royal Countryside Fund are launching a UK-wide Supporting Rural Communities grant programme on 10 January 2025. This new differentiated funding aims to support transformative, community-led initiatives across the UK, unlocking the huge potential for positive change in rural communities. The aim is to support innovative solutions that will “power up, not prop up” communities, inspiring change and encouraging economic vibrancy.

Organisations can apply for grants of up to £25,000 over a period of 24 months to deliver activities along the themes of:

• Keeping young people in the countryside
• Powering up rural communities
• Increasing environmental sustainability
• Building emergency resilience in rural areas.

There will be a two-stage application process. Initially, you will need to send a short video and complete a simple Expression of Interest form. The deadline for expressions of interest is 21 February 2025.

A webinar for prospective applicants is being held on 17 December 2024. You can sign up for the webinar via the website.

Grants to install electric vehicle charging points at the workplace

The government’s Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) is a voucher-based scheme that provides support towards the up-front costs of the purchase and installation of electric vehicle (EV) charge-points, for eligible businesses, charities and public sector organisations.

The grant covers up to 75% of the total costs of the purchase and installation of EV charge points (inclusive of VAT), capped at a maximum of:

• £350 per socket
• 40 sockets across all sites per applicant – for instance, if you would like to install them in 40 sites, you will have 1 socket available per site

Funding is confirmed until March 2025. More information including application forms are available via this link.

Local Net Zero Hubs support available to councils and communities

The Local Net Zero Hubs programme helps local authorities and communities in England to play a leading role in decarbonisation, supporting local authorities to develop net zero projects and attract commercial investment.

Find out more about the Local Net Zero Hub in your area follow the relevant link below:

• North East and Yorkshire Local Net Zero Hub
• North West Local Net Zero Hub
• Midlands Local Net Zero Hub
• South West Local Net Zero Hub
• South East Local Net Zero Hub

One specific grant, currently available in many areas, is the Community Energy Fund.

This fund is a grant programme for community groups and eligible third sector organisations to develop projects from feasibility to commercialisation. The funding supports eligible community groups to consider options, design schemes and overcome barriers to investment. Further information on this and other support available can be found at this link.

Local business organisations – keep calm and sign up!

RSN exists to enable the issues facing the rural areas of England to be identified, information and good practice to be shared and government to be challenged to address the needs and build on the opportunities which abound in rural areas. We have a number of Chambers of Trade, Commerce and Local Business Networks who are members of RSN and currently receive our bulletins.  If there is a business organisation in your area who you think would find our bulletins useful, please pass this bulletin onto them and ask them to contact Andy Dean with their contact details so we can ensure they are included in future distributions.

Future editions of the Rural Economy Spotlight

The next edition of this bulletin will be distributed in March 2025.  If you have any suggestions as to future content or would like to submit a short article for inclusion, please contact Andy Dean.